Modular Shelf Unit with Interlocking Assembly for Stable Stacking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shelves lack the ability to be assembled stably and flexibly, leading to inefficient use of storage space when arranged side by side or stacked, as they are not designed to interlock, resulting in the need for inconvenient measures like using strings for stability and limited arrangement flexibility.
Innovation Solution
The shelf unit incorporates a leg rod mechanism with four leg rods, a board mechanism, and assembly mechanisms featuring non-circular engaging holes and through holes, allowing for stable stacking and side-by-side arrangement through fastening units that connect the shelf units in the up-down and left-right directions, enabling flexible configuration and improved space utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional shelves are arranged side by side without interlocking design, then the arrangement is simple, but the stability is poor and requires additional fastening measures like strings
Solution Approach 1:
The shelf is divided into modular components (shelf body, leg rods, connecting pieces) that can be independently assembled. The connecting pieces are further segmented into first and second connecting pieces with different hole configurations, allowing flexible assembly while maintaining stability without requiring additional fastening measures.
Solution Approach 2:
The first and second connecting pieces are integrated into the shelf structure itself, with connecting holes built into the shelf body and leg rods. This nested design eliminates the need for separate external fasteners like strings, as the fastening function is embedded within the shelf components themselves.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional shelves are stacked without interlocking design, then the arrangement is simple, but the space utilization is poor and flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The shelf design provides universal connectivity through multiple types of connecting pieces and hole configurations that enable both side-by-side and stacked arrangements. The same shelf unit can be assembled in different configurations (horizontal or vertical) using the integrated connecting pieces, making the shelf multi-functional and highly adaptable to various spatial requirements.
3Ease of operation
If conventional shelves use non-interlocking design, then the assembly process is simple, but the stability and arrangement flexibility are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting holes are pre-configured into the shelf body and leg rods during manufacturing, with first and second connecting pieces positioned at specific locations. This preliminary arrangement of connecting features allows users to simply align and assemble the shelves without complex fastening operations, maintaining ease of assembly while ensuring stable connections through the integrated hole designs.
Data Source
AI summary
A shelf unit includes four leg rods and two assembly mechanisms. The leg rods extend in an up-down direction, are spaced apart from each other, and are equally divided into two leg pairs. Each of the assembly mechanisms includes a first connecting subunit that is mounted to a top end of a respective one of the leg pairs, and a second connecting subunit that is mounted to a bottom end of the respective one of the leg pairs. One of the first and second connecting subunits of each of the assembly mechanisms has two engaging holes each of which is configured to be non-circular. The other one of the first and second connecting subunits of each of the assembly mechanisms has two through holes each of which corresponds in position to a respective one of the engaging holes of the assembly mechanism in the up-down direction.